Dave Dieter/ THE HUNTSVILLE TIMESPropulsion and Explosives Technology Evaluation Center, which will be run by the Army's Aviation & Missile Research, Development and Engineering held a ribbon cutting with an explosive Monday. Pushing the plunger made by the ACME "Co" (in reference to Wiley Coyote and the Acme Tool Co) are from left Col Robert Pastorelli, Cogressman Parker Griffith, Col Harold Greene, Dr. William McCorkle

Instead of snipping a ceremonial ribbon with scissors, executives from the Aviation & Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center obliterated a ribbon by detonating a warhead a safe distance from the crowd.

The new facility, called the Propulsion and Explosives Technology Evaluation Center, comprises about 20 buildings and an explosives test range that until 1996 housed Thiokol Corp.'s missile engine propellant operation.